Transom operator



E. E. KOENIG El AL 2,063,883

TRANSOM OPERATOR Filed Feb. 8, 1932 17 1 INVENTORS 5 z? [a MM: 50 14 ha @512 flu/f if ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSOM OPERATOR Application February 8, 1932, Serial No. 591,676

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a transom operator adapted to open panels and windows that are not easily accessible, and is more particularly designed to operate a transom or ventilator window provided in a partition wall, either in conjunction with a door or separately.

Transom operators heretofore constructed are generally Very complicated in their mechanism and costly to manufacture and install. Many turns of the operating handle, particularly in the worm and gear type of operator, have been necessary to effect a ninety degree opening of the window. This turning operation to effect opening of the window is not only annoying, but time consuming, and further, necessitates the use of complicated mechanism which often gets out of order. Furthermore, transom operators heretofore constructed are often lacking in effective means to prevent unauthorized opening of the window by manual manipulation of the window itself. As a consequence, unauthorized entry to rooms by manipulating the transom window from the outside is sometimes effected.

An object of our invention is to provide a transom operator by means of which a ninety degree opening of the transom can be effected by a short turn of the operating handle.

Another object of our invention is to provide a transom operator which is adapted to be installed and concealed entirely within the ordinary hollow metallic post without necessitating changes in the post itself.

Another object of our invention is to provide a transom operator having means operable to effect automatic locking of the transom window in closed position and to prevent opening thereof by manipulation of the window itself, and having means adjustable to firmly resist movement of the window in any position except through proper manipulation of the operating handle.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a transom operator composed of few parts, which is positive in operation, inexpensive to manufacture and install, sturdy and lasting in construction and substantially foolproof.

Other objects of this invention will become evident as the description proceeds.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in con nection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical face view of a fragmentary portion of the partition wall showing our novel transom operator in dotted lines, operably connected to the transom window and shown as it appears within the partition post;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through a hollow metallic partition post and our transom operator, this view being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 in the vicinity of the operating handle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical interior View of a fragmentary portion of a hollow metallic post showing particularly the means'for mounting the lower end of our transom operator within the partition post;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through a portion of the hollow post and transom operator, this View being taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view of a fragmentary portion of the transom window and transom operator, showing particularly the manner in which our transom operator is connected to the transom window, this view further illustrating the positions which the transom window assumes when the transom operator is in certain positions.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, we have shown our transom operator as mounted within a hollow metallic partition post and operably connected to a transom window in a partition panel, but it is understood that this is merely illustrative and a door may take the place of the panel 23. It is understood, however, that our transom operator may be operably connected to any pivoted panel, window or other wall section desired to be manipulated into various positions, within the purview of this invention. For the purpose of illustration, therefore, we have shown a portion of a partition post comprising hollow metallic uprights It and II maintained in spaced relationship by the spacer member I 2. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, spacer member I2 is provided with shoulder portions [3 at each of the four corners thereof which engage respectively the inturned flanges H! of uprights H3 and II respectively. A clip element 15 is positioned on each side of the post and is provided with shoulder portions l6 which seat against the inner corners ll of the uprights l0 and l i respectively. A screw bolt I8 extends through the clips I5 on each side of the post and when nut I9 on the end thereof Pilaster covers.2l ,extending the full length of the post can be snapped into engagement with the shoulder portions I6 of the clips I5 to cover the space between the spaced uprights I0 and I I.,

making a finished and attractive appearing metallic post.

A transom bar 22 extends betweenthe uprights I 6 and II of two spaced posts. and is suit-" A wall panel 23 is'secured ably secured thereto. along the edges thereof to the transom bar 22 and within a recess 24 provided in the post uprights. The upper end of the post uprights I0 and I I are secured to a cornice member 25 which extends:

horizontally across the top of the partition.

' The transom panel or window comprises horizontal framing members 26 and vertical framing members 21 forming together a frame within which the window panel 28 is seated. The tran som window 28 is pivotally mountedupon stud elements 29 having spaced flanges 36 which are secured to the vertical framing members 21 of the panel. The Window panel is thus adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis. It is understood that the stud elements 29 can be attached to the window panel 28 in any position to produce the desired vertical or horizontal tilting of the window panel. The stud elements 29 project into the verticalposts and are suitably mounted in bearings provided in the post uprights.

The specific construction of our transom operator will now be described. A shaft 3I is provided ,which extends through an aperture 32 in one of the pilaster covers 2I and into the hollowpost.

An operating handle33 is suitably secured to the outer end of the shaft 3|. The operating handle may beprovided with a reduced portion 34 if desired, which portion may extend through the aperture 32 and engage the end of the shaft 3I within. The shaft 3I may be mounted for rotating movement in any suitable manner within the hollow post. We have shown in the drawing means which have proven as a satisfactory mounting for the shaft 3I, which consists of a ,U-shaped support having upstanding side walls 35 connected by a web portion 36. The U-shaped support is concealed within the post and rests upon the spacer member I2, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. When thus arranged, the screw bolt I8 may also extend through the side walls 35 of this U-shaped sup port, thus firmly securing the sameimmovable within the post. The shaft 3| extends through aligned apertures in theflange portions 35, which apertures constitute bearings for the shaft.

The shaft 3Iis provided with a squared portion 36 which extends through a corresponding squared aperture in a crank element 31. The crank element3'l rotates with the rotation of the operating handle 33. The lower end 38 .of a connecting rod 39 is pivotally secured to one end of the crank element 31 by means of a pin 40. The connecting rod 39 extends up through the hollow post member and the upper end 4I thereof is pivotally connected to a crank arm 42 by means of pivot pin 43. The crank arm 42 is provided with a bushing portion 44zintowhich the free end of one of the studelements 29 extends and is secured. x

It is now seen that by turning the handle operator 33, crank element 3'! vertically manipulates the connecting rod 39 so as to turn the crank arm 42 which is fixedly secured to the stud 29 attached to the window panel, and thus the window panel may be swung about a horizontal axis. It is further evident from a study of Figs. 3 and 5, that a ninety degree turn of the handle operator 33 will turn the crank element 3! approximately ninety degrees. The connecting rod 39 in turn rotates the crank arm 42 approximately ninety degrees which will move the window panel 28 approximately ninety degrees, or from closed position to full open position, as indicated inFig. 5.

The crank element 31 is preferably so arranged that when the window panel 28 is closed, the crank element stands in a true vertical position. By turning the handle operator 33 so as to move the crank element 3'! beyond dead center verticalposition, shown in Fig. 3, the window panel 28. is effectively locked in closed position and all attempts to manually manipulate the window panel to open the same will be thwarted. This is true byreason of the fact that any attempt to pivot the window panel into open position will have a tendency to produce a downward thrust on the connecting rod 39, which will only move the crank element 31 further beyond vertical dead center. To limit the dead center movement of the crank element 31, we provide a pin 45 which extends through the fiange portions 35 of the U- shaped support and against which extension 46, provided on the crank element 31, abuts. Therefore, once the crank element 31 has been moved beyond dead center position by the handle operator 33, the window panel is locked in closed position against movement in the opposite direction, and because of the shoulders SI and 52, which are apart of the transom sill and abut against opposite sides of the longitudinal faces of the transom panel, it can not be swung further, and therefore cannot be externally manipulated.

To maintain the window panel in any'desired open position, we provide a brake device comi prising a metallic band 4! which encircles a portion of the shaft 3I. The band 41 is provided with a pair of laterally extending arms 48 which straddle a pin 49 extending between and secured to the flange portion 35 of the U-shaped support. A screw bolt 50 extends through the laterally extending arms 48. By proper manipulation of a nut 5| at the end of the screw bolt 50, it is seen that the band 4! may be adjusted with respect to the shaft 3| which it encircles so as to grip the shaft any amount desired. It is relatively easy to overcome the gripping action produced on the shaft 3I by the band portion 41 through the handle, but any movement of the window panel 23 through direct application of force to the window panel itself is firmly resisted if not made impossible by the braking action of the band 41. By increasing the length of the operating handle 33, so as to obtain the proper leverage the braking force exerted by the brake band 41 can be made inconsequential when the window panel is properly operated through the operating handle.

Our novel transom operator is composed of relatively few parts which can be inexpensively manufactured and assembled. It is sturdy and substantially foolproof in construction, can be installed by unskilled workmen, and can be concealed in a small amount of space within the post member. We have eliminated all gears, racks and other mechanical elements which are likely to get out of order. The panel window can be moved any desired amount by a slight and quickly executed movement of the handle and it may be antomatically locked in closed position by a slight further movement of the operating handle.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with partition framing including hollow post members and a panel pivotally mounted on stud elements projecting into said hollow post members, of panel operating mechanism including a crank arm connected to one of said stud elements, an operating handle mounted on the outside of one of said posts, a shaft connected to said handle and extending into said post, a crank member connected to said shaft within said post, a link connecting said crank arm and crank element, a brake including a reversely bent strap frictionally embracing said shaft to resist movement of said panel, and means including a member passing between the end portions of the strap and fixed relative to said stud elements for holding said strap against movement.

2. In combination with partition framing including hollow post members and a panel pivotally mounted on stud elements projecting into said hollow post members, of panel operating mechanism including a crank arm connected to one of said stud elements, an operating handle mounted on the outside of one of said posts, a shaft connected to said handle and extending into said post, a crank member connected to said shaft within said post, a link connecting said crank arm and crank element, and a brake including a spring strap frictionally embracing said shaft to resist movement of said panel and having end portions extending in the same general direction, and means for varying the distance between said end portions for adjusting the grip of said strap on said shaft.

3. In combination with partition framing, including hollow post members and a panel pivotally mounted on stud elements projecting into said hollow post members, of panel operating mechanism including a crank arm connected to one of said stud elements, an operating handle mounted on the outside of one of said posts, a crank element connected to said handle, a rod operatively connected to said crank arm and crank element, said panel operating mechanism being adjusted so that a ninety degree turn of the handle will pivot the panel through substantially ninety degrees and a turn of more than ninety degrees of the handle will lock the panel in fixed position and a brake including means frictionally engaging the shaft to which the operating handle is connected to resist movement of said panel.

4. In combination with partition framing, including hollow post members and a panel pivotally mounted on stud elements projecting into said hollow post members, of panel operating mechanism including a crank arm connection to one of said stud elements, an operating handle mounted on the outside of one of said posts, a crank element connected to said handle, a rod operatively connected to said crank arm and crank element, said panel operating mechanism being adjusted so that a ninety degree turn of the handle will pivot the panel through substan tially ninety degrees and a turn of more than ninety degrees of the handle will lock the panel in fixed position, a brake including a bent strip frictionally embracing the shaft to which the operating handle is connected, to resist movement of said panel and means including a member passing between the end portions of the strap and fixed relative to said stud elements for holding said strap against movement.

ELMER. EDWARD KOENIG. WARNER GUSTAV HULT. 

